State: Bush orders statewide security measures

ORLANDO -- Gov. Jeb Bush directed state agencies on Thursday to stockpile drug treatments for potential chemical and biological attacks, tighten rules for foreigners seeking driver's licenses and step up police, fire and rescue training.

Many of the measures were recommended by a security assessment undertaken by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.

Bush announced his executive order at the FDLE's Regional Operations Facility in Orlando.

"While we as a state and nation are united in a way like never before and determined to move forward with our day-to-day lives, the events of one month ago have changed our lives forever," Bush said. "We recognize there is a need to implement further safeguards for the well-being of our people."

At the request of his brother, President George Bush, the governor has already posted more than 400 National Guardsmen at the state's 19 commercial airports.

As part of his directive, Bush ordered state motor vehicle officials to retain copies of any foreign documents used by driver's license applicants, share driver's license information with law enforcement, and make foreigners' drivers' licenses expire at the same time as their documentation permitting them to be in the country.

According to testimony before Congress on Thursday, three of the hijackers who entered the country legally had overstayed their visas: Nawaf Alhazmi, Waleed M. Alshehri and Ahmed Alghamdi. Florida driver's licenses or state ID cards were issued in the names of all three.

Three of the six hijackers whose names do not appear in immigration records received Florida photo identification cards in early July, immigration officials told Congress.

"This came up clearly in the several days after Sept. 11 when we were doing a thorough review of how we issue drivers' licenses," Bush said. "Common sense would suggest that if someone's visa has run out, they shouldn't be in our country, and if their visa has run out, they shouldn't have a driver's license."

Bush also ordered FDLE Commissioner Tim Moore to either serve as or name a chief of Florida domestic security initiatives. That person will direct the FDLE in reporting to the governor and legislators by Nov. 1 on additional antiterrorism efforts.

The estimated cost of enacting all the proposals could range as high as $20-million, with funding to come from federal sources, transfers from existing state programs and working capital.

The order creates seven regional domestic security task forces to work under the auspices of the FDLE. The task forces will coordinate responses to terrorist incidents from law enforcement and public safety agencies, ensure proper training for state and local personnel and collect and disseminate terrorist intelligence.

"Working together will be our line of defense," Bush said. "That requires a lot more coordination in a lot of different ways."

Bush also named a domestic security panel to advise him on antiterrorism concerns in Florida. It includes former U.S. Reps. Bill McCollum and Tillie Fowler; Pete Peterson, who recently decided to drop his run for the Democratic nomination for governor; Orlando Mayor Glenda Hood; and Joe Myers, former state emergency management chief.

Bush directed the Florida Department of Health to stockpile "necessary pharmaceutical treatments for potential attacks" and create a statewide epidemic intelligence service. The governor also directed new training for health officials in responding to chemical and biological attacks.

Bush called on the FDLE and the Florida Department of Emergency Management to produce public service announcements giving Floridians a better understanding of potential terrorist threats.

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Lucy Morgan

From the Times state desk